Posted on: Friday, June 1, 2001
High-use Kona highway to be repaved
By Hugh Clark
Advertiser Big Island Bureau
KAINALIU, Hawai'i — Hawai'i County road crews begin night repairs Sunday on the rutted Mamalahoa Highway, the only route between North and South Kona.
Area residents have been urging its repaving for about 10 years as traffic has increased sharply.
The $190,000 project covers a little more than 1.5 miles from Honalo through Hokukano Road near Kealakekua.
Project supervisor Willie Perez will be using 25 county workers to complete the repaving in seven to 10 days. Work will be done between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. to avoid traffic jams on the two-lane highway.
"Be cautious, be patient, be kind," Peter Young advised motorists. Young, deputy managing director for West Hawai'i, said all vehicles parked on the highway will have to moved at night. Those that remain will be towed.
While most everyone is pleased that the work is finally being undertaken, veteran Realtor Arnie Rabin said he believes the developer of the Hokuli'a luxury golf and housing project should be paying for the job since the worst of the road damage occurred in the last year from large trucks and heavy equipment involved in the construction of the massive development.
"This is a waste of taxpayer dollars," said Rabin, who praised county crews for doing the work at night. "I am grateful for that and the fact they called a meeting to tell us what they were planning to do."
The nighttime road work means some businesses along the route will have to shorten their hours. Kyle Kondo, manager of Oshima Brothers Stores, said he doesn't mind the inconvenience.
"Finally. Anything will help," he said. "We wanted this improved for quite awhile."
Marni Herkes, president of the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce, said she is happy with the attention the county is paying to some of the area's roads. Other recent projects include repaving of the western end of bumpy Saddle Road and broadening of shoulders and patch work on Kuakini Highway near Kailua.
"We really are pleased by the attention," she said. "Some of it is not pretty but is wonderful for the drivers."
